Improvement in the preparation of compounds for dressing leather



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM KINSEY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENTlN THE PREPARATION OF COMPOUNDS FOR DRES SING LEATHER.

Specification formingpart of Letters Patent No. 147,847, dated Fthraiy 24,1874; application filed April 11, 1873.

dressing, for the purpose of rendering the same more supple, and increasing its durability. Such compounds are in common use, but none of those employed in this country, so far as my knowledge extends, have succeeded in imparting to leather-that superiorfinish which characterizes the imported article known as French leather.

The object of my improvement is to obtain a compound which, when applied as a dressin g to leather, shall impart to it a finish nearly, if not quite, equal to that of the best French leather, and thus secure an article superior to any hitherto manufactured in this country. My improvements consist, first, in the substitution of an acid alone in place of the alkali and acid which are often used in the preparation of a leather-dressing; second, in the use of bees-wax, or any vegetable wax, as an additional ingredient in the preparation of leather-dressing, as hereinafter specified.

The compound embodying my improvement is prepared substantially as follows: Take about one gallon of any animal, fish, Vegeta' ble, or other oil, fat, or grease, except a dry ing-oil. Mix with it about one-quarter of a pound of bees-wax or any vegetable wax, previously melted, and treat the mixture with about two ounces of nitric acid, either pure or diluted. Next apply heat to the mixture until vapor begins to rise. The compound is then,

after cooling, in a condition in which it may be offered for sale.

Just before being used, a variable proportion of the mixture in common use known as dubbin, consisting of tallow and fish-oil, should be added to it, after which it is ready for use according to the ordinary method of applying leather-dressings.

The proportions mentioned in the foregoing formula are not definite, but are given by way of illustration only. Furthermore, the beeswax or other vegetable wax may be entirely omitted, in which'case the compound will embody my first improvement only.

Some acid other than nitric might be employed, but the resulting preparation would be inferior to that containing nitric acid.

The application of heat greatly facilitates the preparation of the compound, but it may be omitted under'favorable circumstances, as, for instance, when the weather iswarm.

In those compounds which are in common use, bees-wax or other vegetable wax may be added to the oil, fat, or grease, and subse quently treated with an alkali or salt, in connection with them and in this new use of bees-wax consists my second improvement aforesaid.

What I claim as my invention, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A leather-dressing consisting of animal, fish, vegetable, or other oil, fat, or grease,

treated with nitric or other acid, either pure. 

